Apparatus for backing up electrotypes.



I. NOCHECK. APPARATUS FOR BACKING UP ELECTROTYPES.

APPLICATION FILED JUNE 23, 1913.

Patented Muy 16, 1916.

2 SHEETS-SHEET I.

Y; J. NOCHECK. APPARATUS FOR BACKINGV UP ELECROTYPES.

APPLICATION FILED III'NE 23,1913.

Patented May 1 6, 1916e 2 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

III

t Application led J' une l23, 1913. Serial No. 775,231.

v n To all whom itmay concern:

, vmuren srnfrns rAfrENironmcE.

J' OSEP NOCHECK, 0F CHEVIT, OHO.

Pidamos non BAcxING or nnncrno'rxrns.

Be it known that I, JOSEPH Noonnox, a citizen-ot` the United States, and a resident of Cheviot, Hamilton county, State of Ohio, have invented a certain new and useful Apparatus for Backing Up Electrotypes; and

I do declare the followingto be a` clear, full, -and exact description ofthe invention, at-

tention being called to the two sheets of drawings, which accompany this application and'form a part thereof.

This invention relates to amachine for backing-up Lelectrolytically produced printmolten condition, is poured into the pan,

. stantially a 'soldering connection, formed ing-faces for printing type-matter, illustrations etc.y These faces, Jthe result of the. electrotype-process`,-are metallic shells, cop-- vper being generally used, which on accountof theirI limited thickness require strengthening vto render them available for use in printing'. This isdone by what is called backin these shells with a back formed yof metal for which a suitable alloy or so-called typemetal is' vgenerallyused. The usual procedure for `formingA this backing 4is by placing the metal-shells face' down upon the 'bottom of'a flat' pan, after which the metal to be used i01- backinfgithem, it being in generally by means of a hand-ladle, and

floated over theback ofthe shell, so as to closely adjust itselfl against the same` and 'to vtill into the many recesses which-make up the type-face. The pans are of a depth to permit them to receive suicient vof this metal to, vcause formation of -backing of ,proper thickness, this thickness 'being ap- .proximatelyione v`fourth of anmch more and this metal whereby it is backed, 'is subsoldering j oint, and prelimianalogons to -a by. deoxidizing and luxing gans, plan their edges and mounted upon wooden bases after which they are ready for use inthe printing press.

The subject of this invention concerns an'.

apparatus-fused fo backing-up electrotype- .shells inv themanner more particularly pouring of lthe metal by `4hand-ladle is dispensed with which 4on d'0- 1 Specication of Letters Patent.

g-'upK 'and consists of providing less. .The connection between the shellv outlined and whereby Patcntied'May 1c, 191e.

drawings, in which count ofthe heat `is exhaustive and toilsome Figure 1, shows atop-view of the apparatus; Figs. 2 and`3, show similar views at reduced scale with operative parts appearelevation of the device, partly shown inseclrotary carrier Vadapted t0 support the pans l which receive the -shellsto be backed-up. In connection there are means providedior supplying heat necessary to apply, the required tinning to the back of the shells and to prepare for 'luxing the backing metal,

.Further there are means-to discharge molten -ing in -diferent positions; Fig. 4, is a side- Y.

tion takenon line 4 4, indicated in Fig. v1. i

metal into each pan and 1n proper quantity i to float over the back f theshells to suflicient depth to make backing of proper thickness, this` discharge being `by preference automatic and under .adjustable control. l

Finally there are means to apply a cooling medium jto cool .the metal with sufficient rapidityto permit removal from the pans of the backed shells and replacing of other` movement of the carrier.y

' shells to be backed without interrupting the.

The carrier-consists of -a circular frame A, supported for rotation in'v a ,horizont-.1 position at the -upper end of a standard 10,

and of brackets a, which in desirable num-v .bers extend radially from the periphery ot TheseH brackets serve' for supporting the pans B, which receive the shells C to be backedand the metal used, for A. the purpose. The carrier-frame with the.

this frame.

brackets `is rotatedby suitable means at a moderate speed appropriate for operation. These rotating lmeans consist of an internal gear 11, provided on frame Ay and engaged by suitable motive lpower as Afor instance by an electric motor '14 and by vsuitable intera pinion 12 at the upper end of'an up-f .right shaft 13. This latter is actuated by v im l l metal may be -remelted after having been venient transmitting gears arranged to ob? tain proper speed. The discharge of the molten metal is timed so as to* occur only While a pan passes in proper position to receive it. The quantityV discharged at that time is of course so -apportioned that/the metal rises above the shells sufficiently to iproducebacking of the desired thickness.`

The same quantity is released at each discharge inasmuch as the pans are all of the same size irrespective of any variation in the size of the type-shells, the' sizeof the pans being so asto be capable of receiving the largest shells which may be made. No'4` Waste results however because the surplus cut off" even with the edges of the shells When the resultant type-plates are trimmed to size.l

In order to.l obtain the necessary quantum yof metal in the 'limitedjtime-during which discharge is available, metal is released simultaneously from a number of.openings above a pan. They advantage of a discharge of this character as against one from a single, but larger, outlet is that it prevents buckling of the shells, or curling up -at their edges, Which, Wouldiresult from (the limited t contact ,ofl a concentrated discharge. of

' ladle isused. AForfsuch purpose I provide y metal, an objectionable eifeotconnected With the fpouring of the. metal when the handa discharge-head D, which hasa number of outlets d' arranged in a line substantially radial to the carrier, the length of the'row of outlets being arranged with respect to the length, radially considered, of the pans, and

Vthe row being so' positioned as to be, above the path of the pans and entirely within the same. See Fig. 5. y f

Discharge from the head is controlledlby controlling the supply thereto and is ob-` tained bymeans of a lvalve 15. `This valve i might be actuated manually, but by pref-l erence it is actuated by means operating automaticallyA and inA a manner that discharge' of metal starts as soon as a pan 'has passed fairly below the dischargelhead and is caused to stop again before the same pan 'has passed yout from below the dischargehead. Inasmuch as variation in the Weight fof the 4bodyxof molten metal lying back of the discharge-head has a tendency to modify discharge from this latter quantitatively .and in fa-manner affecting the thickness of the baclnfng to be produced, it is desirable to-arrange for the maintenance of a con-- stant body ofmolteu metal from which ythe s. discharge-head is supplied. For this reason and instead of connecting thev discharge-V head directly' to the melting-pot E, I 'conf nect it to an interposed pot 'F, which receivesthe metal in molten condition from the meltin .-pot and holds it in readiness for supplying the discharge-head. A Acon-I conditions and arrangements,

duit e connects the meltng-pot-wth this supply-pot and a constant body of metal is maintained in this latter by means of an automatically actuated valve 17 Which controls passage through conduit e. This providesa-lso metal Iclear of dross Whichl latter remains in pot E. The actuation ofvalve V1'? is preferably by means of a ball-float 18 vvvhich .rises and falls with the level of the metal in pot F and by-f'its obvious connec- .tionv and operation actuates valve 17 infthe desired manner.`

G indicates a suitable furnace forisupplying heat below melting-pot E.

Valve 15 is actuated to cause flow of metal from the discharge-headinto the pans which pass below it, by cams 19, Which move With the carrier, one being provided for each pan.

. These'cams pass under and lift a rod 21 and an arm 22' connected to it toy which valve 15 is connected by a stem 23; Prompt closingnaction of the valve is had by means of a Weight 24:. Its position Within the pot Which contains vthe molten metal prevents possible interference lby congealed metal. Rod21y is sustained by a braced bracket 25 on which it moves. Removal from pans B of the shells, after they have been backed, can of course not occur until the metal has congealed to a consistency sufficiently rigid to permit this to be-done. A

The placing ofshells to be backed must occur sov far in adyance beforeV reaching the discharge-head as to permit application of" heat necessary for tinning them, which tinning must have been completed before the shells arrive below, the. discharge-head Where they receive the backing metal. i The location of thesepoints Where the shells are' handled in this manner depends on special determined by the size of the carrier, the number Aof pans.A carri'ed thereby and the speed For present purposes and conditions itis assumed that' the removal of the. ybacked lshells from vthe otherY shells to point approximately opposite thedischargehead. These shells, while passing from this point and before reaching the discharge Yhead, are .tinned on their before stated, to prepare't m for receiving the backing-metal'.

A convenient Way for lpturned .backs asof movement. *L

pans and the replacing of be backed takes place at a applying the tinvrequired for the purpose is Gas or ftrolled in a manner that full supply is had is done by means moving with the carrier ginal flange 37,

Aonly while a-pan passes over a burner. LThis AThese latter ment in (reversed direction of the burner.

structure 'is effected by suitable means as for instance by theaction of a weight 34. It 1s connected to the burner-structure by means roller. An elastic buffer device 36 'is provided which cushions the weight before it -of a cable 35, which rpasses over a guide- 7o has reached the limit of its fall. A mar provided .with vent-openand acting upon valves which control the vings and integral protuberances 38 on the supply to the burners in `amanner -to alter'- underside of the pans favor retention of natelyincrease and reduce this supply.

Aheat until the pans come around again lpreferable arrangement is tov provide a set where they -pass above the burners. Fromv of burners adapted to Y apply heat simultanethis point the heatis then readily raised to A ously to severalpans and while moving with fthe required degree and in the time availthe carrier for a part "of its rotation, after able before the pans reach the dischargewhich ythe burners are Eautomatically rehead. Gas is supplied to burner-supply-pipe turned to an initial position to befpicked up 2i', in a suitable manner as for instance by again they; being 'properly spaced and posia flexible connection 39, coupled to-a feedtioned so that each burner. moves with a pan pipev41. The same pipe may supply gas to.:`

andL below thesame. Heat is thus used in two burners 42, one providedy on each side a most direct way and without appreciable of the discharge-head and belcw supply-pot waste of it. .l F. v'The objectief these burners is to mainln the apparatus shown' I apply heat si-k tainthe liquidity of the 'metal to insure its multaneously against the underside ofthree free flow. c y i i f pans by .means of three burners 26, mounted Congealing -of the discharged metal, to upon a supply-pipe 27, and supported by permitremoval of theI shells after being means of bracket-arms 28, projecting from a backed ishastened by an air blast directed bearing 29, which is mounted on standard against them from a blast head 43, supplied 10. The connection to this latter is in a byia blast-pipe 44. Additional blast-heads manner permittinggzrotation of this burner- 45 `are provided which discharge against' structure Olathe-standard. Suitable mecha- Y- thepans from below, They. might` be arnismvis used comprising for instance trips 31 ranged 'in a stationary. position, but by which, yieldingly connected, depend from Vpreference they are arranged and spaced in` each bracket at and are adapt-ed to engage a a manner similar to burners 26, that is, they projection 32 attached tothe burner-struc- `travel' with the pans'iand below them. I'

45Y Y its startingv position. -This return loccurs metal and passes away from the dischargeture and located so as to'extend into the path have Y'shown 5three of these blast-heads supiofsaid trips as theytr/avelwith the carrier. plied'ifromfa 4blast-pipev 46 which isV support- 'The'burner-structure is thus caused'to move'`I ed` upon arms 47, connected to bearing 29,

with the carrier which movement continuesY which supports also bracket arms 28 of the -untilfin' due time the tripsr encountera caln -burner structure so that'these blast-heads 33, held in fa stationary position/.d This conmove with the burner structure and are actact causes the burlier-'structure to. becometuated and controlled asy totheirqmovement disengaged from the carrier each time a trip by the same trip-mechanism. L engages the `carm'and permits it to return to Whenever a pan has received itscharge of immediately before apanjpasses ,below thev head, the before described motion of the discharge-head and the motionv of vthe burner-structure causes 'also thefirst of the burner-structure in reversed direction is so -blast-heads, they moving with this structure, 'limited as to .terminate ina position where to pass below this 5`pan, afterwhich all the Figs. 2 and 3. the irstigure showing posi` with them. -ObserveFig 3. -Bla'st-pipe44 tions Aof the parts b efore and the ,other iml' leads through" standard 10 to a conventional mediately after this change of positions. blower 48 which "may be actuated by motor From this position the burner-structure is 14. Blast-pipe 46 is connected to blast-pipe presently picked up again* byanother trip; 44 by. means ofV a yielding-connection as for heated by them.' See Fig` 3. LThe movfemetal from a pouring-device..

the9 mechanism asused being arranged that instance by fitting onepipa loosely over the this occurs Pwhen the burner-structure has other one, to permit it to slide, .sufiicient passed backa distance approximately equal lap being providedto maintain the connecto the distance betweenptwo pans. In other v'tioIL words, for each of the advancing pans which lpasses away from the .burners and under eration'are as follows:`The shells'are placed thedischarge-head another'panisadded to .face down into pans and pass on with then;

kthose which pass above the burners-tube to a point where't'hey receive the backing-V each burner is again below af pan. Compare lower blast-heads, each vbelow a pan, move Summarized, thevarious steps of the op- If the char- 130 I acter of the metal used is such as to require tinning of the shells, this is done while they pass to the pouring-device and so as to be completed when they reach this device. In this case the shellsfare first acid-treated and the tin in convenient shape, as for in stance foil, is placed. Heat is applied in suitable form, to cause melting of the tin. This is Vdone by burners positioned below the pans and accompanying them for part of their travel. is complete as they pass under the discharge-head of the'pouring-device where they receive the backingmetal. The discharge of this metal is effected by ycams 19 which act upon valve '15 in the manner described. At that time the burners which have moved with the pans slip back and the burner under that particular pan which is receiving metal does not further follow it. Passed beyond the discharge-head, the backed shells are subjected to an air-blast, to permit their removal in due time. The proper quantity of metal is discharged each time into each pan and this discharge is under perfect control as to time and quantity by actuation accordingly of valve 15 which admits the metal to the discharge-` head. 'Such actuation is obtained by positioning cams 19 correspondingly and by arf ranging their length and height upon which i as when ,dipping andV pouring the metal factors the lift of valve 15 and the duration of its opening depends. Various expediencies for exact adjustment of this control suggesttliemselves readily. The interposi tion of supply-pot F, between the discharge-head and the melting-pot insures clean metal, free from dross which remains in the melting-pot where it floats to the top. As a result, spongy plates are avoided and clean casts are obtained of solid metal free from cavities and bubbles.

The work of the tender is not as onerous with. the hand-ladle, since he handles no molten metal at all and his position is remote from the furnace and from the pouring-device where the metal is the hottest. Having described my invention, I claim as new l. In an apparatus for backing-up shells which form printing-faces, the combination' 1 of a discharge-head having normally open outlet openings, pans adapted to"receive shells to be backed-up, a movable carrier whereby the pans are caused to pass below the openings of the discharge-head, a vcontainer for molten-metal in normally closed communication with the discharge-head,

means lto control this communication and devices to actuate these means so as to admit metal to the discharge-head 'only when a pan passes below the outlet openings thereof.

2. In an apparatus for backing-up shells which form printing-faces, the combina- The tinning of each shellv backed-up,

i requires preliminary y tinning them, i are moved to a point where they receive the ceive molten metal therefrom, a discharge outlet for this container, pans adapted to receiveshells to be'backed-up and the metal for it from the discharge outlet, means to control the How of this metal to the pans and means to automatically control the flow of the metal from the container to maintain a this latter.

3. In an apparatus for backing-up shells which form printing-faces, the combination of pans adapted toV receive shells to be a carrier to move them, an elonconstant supply in gatedy to the length of the panslocated above the path of the. pans and provided withoutletopenings arranged in a line disposed at right angles to the direction in which thev carrier moves whereby a distributed discharge of metal is effected and means to permit discharge from these openings only when a pan passes below them.

4. In an apparatus for backing-up shells which forni printing-faces, the combination,

of pans adapted `to receive shells ,to be backed-up and the metal required therefor, a carrier whereby they are moved, an automatically controlled i pouring-device pro vided above the path of the pans Wherefrom the metal is supplied to the pans and means melting pot to the discharge-head approximately equal to maintain the supply of`molten metal for l this pouring-device at a constant level.

.In an apparatus for backing-up shells forming printing-faceswith a metal whichv the combinati/Qn of pans adapted to receive those shells and the moved to a point where'they receive the Vmolten backing-metal and means toc heat to these pans andto the shells therein to effect the tinning of them before they receive the backing-metal.

y material required for .tinning them,acarrier whereby the pans are apply.

tinning of the shells,

lio

6. In an apparatus for backing-up shells 4 forming printing-faces, with a metal which requires preliminary tinning of the shells, the combination of pans adapted to-receive these dshells and the material required for a carrier whereby the pans .purpose while temporarily traveling with these pans toward the point where they refv ceive the backing-metal and means to ca'use the burners to recede from under pans which contain shells the tinning of which is completed andto return to be below pans advancing with shells requiring tinning? L In an apparatus for backing-up shells which form printing-faces, the combination of pans adapted to receive shells vto bel backed-up and the metal required therefor, a pouring-device which containst'thi's metal, a carrier to move the pans with the shells past this pouring-device land means to cool the backed-up shells in the pans after they have passed this ldevice and before they are removed from said pans. l

8. In an apparatus for backing-up shells forming printing-faces, with a metal which requires preliminary tinning of the shells,

the combination of pans adapted to receive these shells and the material requiredbfor tinning them, a carrier whereby the pans' are moved to apoint where they receive the molten backing-metal, means to apply heat to these pans and to the shells therein to effect the tinning of them before they receive the backing-metal and means to cool the shells after they have received the backing metal.

9,. In an apparatus for backing-up shells forming'printing faces, the combination of pans adapted to receive shells to be backed-up and the metal therefor, a carrier whereby they are moved, a pouring-device provided above the path of the pans and' means to subjectthe backed-up shellsv to the action of an air-blast delivered upon the backing after they have passed the pouring-device.

10. In an apparatus for backing-up shells forming" printing faces, the combination of pans adaptedl to receive shells to bev backedup and the metal therefor, ya carrierwhereby they are moved, a pouring-device provided above the path of the pans, movably supported blast-heads to apply air to cool the backed-up shells, while temporarily moving with them after they have passed the,

pouring-device, and means to cause these blast-heads to return and to move under the pans advancing from the pouring-device with backed-up shells. Y f 11. A pan adapted tohold shells which form printing-faces while being backed-up' with a metal requiring preliminary tinning and which is effected by heat a plied to the' underside of said fpan, said un erside being provided Awith/heat-reftaining means in form of Ia marginal, downwardly Aprojecting flange and idownwardly projecting protuberances. is. v

12. In an-apparatus for backing-up shells above the path of the pans.

forming printing-faces, the combination of .on which it is carriedfor rotation, brackets extending radially from the periphery of this frame outwardly, pans supported on these brackets in permanent, horizontal position and adapted to receive the shells to be backed-up and a pouring-device provided 14. Inv an apparatus for backing up electrotype shells, a melting pot for melting the backing metal, a backing pan, a pipe or duct forming a communication between said melting potand backing pan, and means for soV 'lof

spreading the molten metal backing a-s it is delivered to thebacking pan from the melting pot, substantially as described.

15. In an apparatus for backing up shells forming printing faces the combination of a pan adapted torreceive a shellto be backed and the metal required therefor, means adapted to discharge this metal in molten condition and in ay manner so as to spread the same over the back of the shell while delivering it into the pan, and a container for this molten metal in communication with said means. y

i 16. In an apparatus for backing up shells forming printing faces, the combination of a pan adapted to receive a shell to be backed' and the metal requiredtherefor, a container for the molten metal and a discharge head in communication with this container andY adapted to discharge' the molten metal into the pan and in a manner that the metal is delivered over shell.'` A

In testimony whereof, I hereunto aiiiX my signature in the an extended area of the presence of itwo Y witnesses.

I Witnesses:

' C.1SPENGEL, T.- LEBEAV.

JOSEPH NOCHECK. I 

